Our recent hard freezes have caused part of our Fenwick ponds to freeze over. Lately, neighbors have reported seeing kids venturing out onto the ice.
PLEASE talk with your children about the dangers of playing on the ice, and tell them to stay away from the water when it’s cold.
Experts say when it’s 38 degrees F or colder outside, water can be deathly cold — literally. When temperatures are in the low double digits, like they have been lately, you have about 30 seconds after you fall in the water before you become unconscious.
The thickness of the ice can be deceiving. If you take a stick and poke it, you’ll see it’s often not even 1/2 inch thick. This is not strong enough to support even a small animal, much less a child or teenager.
Help keep your kids and pets safe this winter. Tell kids to stay away from the ponds and creeks, and don’t walk your pet near the water; they can run out onto the ice before you know it!